The Elements

The four elements fire, water, air, and earth are deeply ingrained in the symbolism of the Tarot. In this context they are not defined literally, but as philosophical ideas based around the properties of each one.

Each suit relates to an element, and each element has a specific card, a segment of the court cards, 3 zodiac signs, and a planet which represents it. If you look at the astral calendar I created you can see how this all lays out and connects.

Fire

Sudden, uncontrollable change

Wands: power, passion, expansion

Planet: Uranus

Zodiac: Aries, Sagittarius, Leo

Court assignment: Knights

Card: Judgement or The Spirit of Primal Fire

World: Creation

Water

Sacrifice

Cups: emotions, spirit, intuition

Planet: Neptune

Zodiac: Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces

Court assignment: Queens

Card: The Hanged Man or The Spirit of the Mighty Waters

World: Formation

Air

Regeneration, survival of the sublime

Swords: intellect, psyche, survival

Planet: Pluto

Zodiac: Aquarius, Libra, Gemini

Court assignment: Kings

Card: The Fool or The Spirit of Ether

World: Emanation

Earth

Ourselves

Pentacles: material, sensual, practical

Planet: None

Zodiac: Taurus, Capricorn, Virgo

Court assignment: Princesses

Card: None

World: Action

Earth is not associated with a specific card or planet because it represents ourselves, or whoever is involved in a reading.

There is also an ancient fifth element know as Aether.

Aether

Aether is the foundation as well as the binding force of all the other elements. It represents the cosmos, all matter that may exist above the terrestrial sphere, and the collective human experience. Simply put, Aether is the elemental form of the spirit.

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While studying the symbols and how the elements connect I was inspired once again to create some pieces of jewelry. I believe that everyone carries the spirit of their specified element with them (as designated by their sign) and to know it and embrace it helps one better understand their circumstances and cope with every day life.

The charms I created correspond to each of the alchemical symbols of the elements.

When a heavy element (water/earth) is layered with a light element (air/fire) they create the fifth element, Aether.